If your vehicle is registered outside of Ontario, you can easily get it registered at a Service Ontario centre. If it’s a new vehicle purchased within Ontario, the process is pretty straightforward. However, for vehicles registered outside Ontario, you must follow a few steps.

The steps and process depend on where your vehicle was initially registered. In this article, we shall discuss the car registration process and titbits in Ontario. Alternatively, if you are looking for the best car insurance quotes from providers in Windsor (and the surrounding areas), reach out to Surex to get started.

Steps to register out of province vehicle in Ontario

If your vehicle is registered in a different Canadian province, like British Columbia or Alberta, you must adhere to the following steps to register an out of province vehicle in Ontario:

Step #1 — Complete the formalities

Complete the formalities of general registration in Ontario. Please provide the following information and documentation:

• Your driving license, if you have one, or the registration identification number (RIN) if you do not
• If you are registering a self-propelled motorcycle or motor home, a light commercial vehicle, or a passenger vehicle, you will need to procure the completed used vehicle information package
• A portion of the used vehicle information package is to be used as a bill of sale or a seller receipt as proof of purchase
• Car insurance proof from an Ontario based insurance provider
• Completed transfer portion within the original vehicle permit obtained from the seller
• If you wish to attach a license plate you already have, you need to present the plate portion from the permit

Step #2 — Provide proof of identity

When registering out of province vehicle in Ontario for the first time using a driver’s license or the RIN, you must provide proof of identity that bears your signature, date of birth, and name

There are additional requirements for a vehicle that is registered under a leasing agreement. You will need to provide one of these below:

• Authorization letter from the company under whose name the vehicle is leased for registration in Ontario
• RIN and VIN in a letter from the company under whose name the vehicle is leased
• Invoice or lease agreement copy

For vehicle transactions made by military personnel, the NDI 20 or NDI 21 military identification card issued by the Department of National Defense can be used to prove their name, date of birth, and even signature.

Military personnel from outside Ontario having a license plate validation from a different region can simply have the remaining time converted onto a license plate sticker issued in Ontario. They will no longer need a letter from their military commanding officer.

For vehicles registered outside Canada

If your vehicle is registered in a different country, you must follow these steps:

• Step 1: Complete the general registration formalities required in Ontario as discussed above
• Step 2: Go to the website of the Canada Border Service Agency and fill out the Vehicle Import Form 1 form customs clearance
• Step 3: Add your vehicle to a list of imported goods
• Step 4: When registering a vehicle for the first time using a driver’s license or the RIN, you will need to provide proof of identity a proof of identity that bears your signature, date of birth, and name
• Step 5: For any vehicle that has an out-of-province lease other than Ontario, proof of lease will be required for registration

There are additional requirements for a vehicle registered under a leasing agreement — the same as for an out of province vehicle. You will need to provide one of these below:

• Authorization letter from the company under whose name the vehicle is leased for registration in Ontario
• RIN and VIN in a letter from the company under whose name the vehicle is leased
• Invoice or lease agreement copy

The process is the same for Canadian military personnel with a vehicle registered outside Canada, with the NDI 20 and NDI 21 cards being valid proofs of identity. Their cards can be used to prove their identity for all transactions related to vehicles. For all cases, just remember to bring Vehicle Import Form 1 from customs clearance.

For personal vehicles that were in commercial use outside of Ontario

Again, the steps vary slightly if you wish to register a personal vehicle like a pick-up truck used for commercial purposes outside Ontario. This is applicable for both other Canadian provinces as well as other countries.

• Step 1: Complete the general registration formalities required in Ontario as already discussed.
• Step 2: Provide the insurance proof.
• Step 3: Produce the ownership or title that’s valid for out of province vehicles.
• Step 4: If the vehicle is registered under a different name, provide a complete bill of sale.
• Step 5: You need to present the unloaded vehicle weight in kilograms if it’s not already mentioned on the ownership document. You can visit a government-approved vehicle inspection station, cement company, or a garbage dump to avail of the required services.
• Step 6: Present a confirmation of the manufacturer’s specification depicting the vehicle’s actual weight in kilograms. A letter from the dealer of the motor vehicle should work.
• Step 7: Provide a certificate of safety standards.
• Step 8: For older heavy-duty diesel vehicles like tow trucks or transport trucks, you’ll need to present an emission test.
• Step 9: If the vehicle is salvaged or rebuilt, you need a structural safety test conducted at a vehicle inspection station.

Payment of harmonized sales tax (HST) or retail sales tax

You will have to pay HST or the retail sales tax at 13% for registration in Ontario if the vehicle is purchased in a different Canadian province privately. Suppose the vehicle is registered in a non-HST province like British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, or Quebec. In that case, you will only have to pay the Ontario portion of HST -8% instead of the standard 13%.

However, if you wish to become a resident in Ontario, you can declare an exemption while registering the vehicle with Ontario authorities instead of paying the retail sales tax.

Endnote

You now know the steps you need to follow to get your out-of-province vehicle registered in Ontario. Although it might sound complicated, it is an essential process to follow. You can contact a professional for more guidance. For more details about exemptions on the retail tax, you can contact ServiceOntario.